Home Garden Tips

Sunday, July 31, 2011

It's the age-old story of forbidden love between feuding families, but Shakespeare's classic tragedy Romeo and Juliet becomes quite a comedy when the young lovers in question are different-colored gnomes from backyards on opposite sides of a tall wooden fence. Lured out of their respective gardens by wanderlust and an exotic orchid, Gnomeo (James McAvoy) and Juliet (Emily Blunt) meet and instantly fall in love. Their forbidden love blossoms with a little help from a plastic pink flamingo named Featherstone (Jim Cummings), and soon life-threatening lawnmower races ensue, an epic battle is staged, and wisteria trees and gnome hats are hacked to bits in the process. Shakespeare himself (Patrick Stewart) makes an appearance and declares that, while this story bears a marked resemblance to one of his own, he's not sure it will end in quite the same way. Shakespunian nuggets of wisdom include "A weed is by any other name, still a weed," and that fairness demands "a hat for a hat," and of course the philosophical question "What's in a gnome?" just has to be asked. Executive producer Elton John's penchant for over-the-top showmanship finds a perfect home in the gnomes' elaborate backyard sets, and his musical score is an effective blend of classic and original songs, including a new collaboration with Lady Gaga called "Hello, Hello." Other legendary musicians lending their talents to the voice cast include Dolly Parton and Ozzy Osbourne. This film is funny, engaging, and, with the possible exception of one particularly scantily clad gnome, appropriate for the whole family. (Ages 5 and older) --Tami Horiuchi

Saturday, July 30, 2011

With two types of bristles and a flexible neck, the bottle brush by Oxo is the ultimate weapon in cleaning skinny bottles and narrow jars. Because of the brush's flexible neck and rounded head, nooks and crannies are easy to get to and get clean. The nonslip handle stays firmly in place--even under running water--and absorbs pressure and tension away from hands. --Laurie Notaro

Friday, July 29, 2011

The most revered of all Disney films, SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS is alive with fairy tale magic, heart-pounding suspense, and rousing adventure. Once Snow White's vain stepmother, the wicked Queen, consults her Magic Mirror to learn that her stepdaughter's beauty surpasses her own, the lovely young girl must flee into the forest. There, she meets seven lovable dwarfs: Dopey, Sleepy, Sneezy, Bashful, Happy, Doc, and the rough-edged Grumpy. But even their devotion cannot save her form the Queen's spell ... the spell that can only be battled by a prince! Now, through high-definition direct-to-digital technology, you can own "The One That Started It All" -- the first full-length animated feature ever created, lovingly restored for a memorable entertainment experience for all ages!

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Filmed before (and quite nicely) in 1949, Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic children's story was remade for this admirable 1993 release, executive produced by Francis Ford Coppola and directed by acclaimed Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland. Splendidly adapted by Edward Scissorhands screenwriter Caroline Thompson, the film opens in India during the early 1900s, when young Mary Lennox (Kate Maberly) is orphaned and sent to England to live in Misselthwaite Manor, the gloomy estate of her brooding and melancholy uncle, Lord Craven (John Lynch). Because the uncle is almost always away on travels, struggling to forget the death of his beloved wife, Mary is left mostly alone to explore the estate. Eventually she befriends the young brother of a staff maid and Lord Craven's apparently crippled son, who has been needlessly bedridden for years. Together the three children restore a neglected garden on the estate grounds, and in doing so they set the stage for a moving reaffirmation of life and love. Filmed with graceful style and careful attention to the intelligence and cleverness of young children, The Secret Garden is that rarest breed of family film that transcends its own generic category, encouraging a sense of wonder and optimism to become a rewarding experience for viewers of any age. --Jeff Shannon

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Black & Decker String Trimmer Auto Feed System Replacement SpoolThe Black & Decker string trimmer Auto Feed System replacement spool provides a 30-foot replacement line for use in your auto feed string trimmer. This factory wound spool offers maximum reliability and eliminates the hassle of having to wind the spool yourself. The exclusive Black & Decker Automatic Feed Spool (AFS) system automatically advances the cutting string without bumping, using centrifugal force to feed the trimmer line as it is needed. Using the correct diameter line is critical to the performance of your string trimmer -- this spool features a .065-inch diameter line. This replacement spool is designed for use with the following Black & Decker string trimmers: #GH400, #GH500, #GH600, #ST6600, #ST7000, #CST1000, #CST2000, #NST2018. It is backed by a 2-year full warranty.

Are you troubled by more insects than you can swat? Sick of citronella? Driven mad by mosquitoes? The Flowtron 80-watt electronic insect killer is just what you need to remove pesky insects from the guest list at your next picnic or outdoor get-together. This ecologically friendly device uses no fogs, sprays, or poisons and comes completely assembled and ready for use. The unit plugs into a standard electrical socket and operates for only pennies a day. It utilizes a high-intensity black light bulb to lure and eliminate light-sensitive flying insects and is designed to protect an area of up to 1-1/2 acres. An exclusive mosquito-attractant cartridge, activated when the unit is turned on, is also included. The unit's high-efficiency vertical grid eliminates clogging that can cause short-circuits or flare-up of insect remains, and a protective outer enclosure prevents injury to children, pets, birds, and wildlife. The durable casing is rainproof and rustproof for years of trouble-free operation. A two-year limited manufacturer's warranty is included.